Sharks-Blackhawks Preview: Hawks Growing Up Fast

Now we'll see just how far these kids have come this season.

On Saturday night, the Chicago Blackhawks enjoyed what could very easily be looked back at as a defining moment for this generation of Hawks. Down 3-0 in the second period, the young group gave Nikolai Khabibulin more support than he deserved and forced an overtime period that lasted less than 60 seconds. The Blackhawks continue their "Circus Trip" Wednesday night by visiting the San Jose Sharks.

But after three days off in another new time zone, the young squad prepares to skate against NHL's points leader in the Sharks. Coming back against a Toronto team with 19 points was exciting; getting down three goals against San Jose would mean game over.

The Blackhawks have looked better than expected during the first three games of this long, two week road trip. By easily handling Phoenix and playing a good, physical game against a mature Dallas team, the young Hawks have started to find their groove on the ice. Patrick Kane continues to find the back of the net, and Kris Versteeg is starting to look more and more like Kane's successor raising the Calder Trophy.

But San Jose isn't Phoenix. The Coyotes are, like the Hawks, one of the youngest teams in the league. Playing against other teenagers in front of five or six thousand fans, of which the majority may have been cheering for Chicago, doesn't make for a rough start to any road trip.

San Jose isn't Dallas, either. The Stars might have a roster loaded with names fans will remember from their Sega Genesis days, but their 16 points aren't very impressive. In fact, their less than half of the division-leading Sharks.

And San Jose most certainly isn't Toronto. The Leafs have had issues in goal this season, and injuries have kept them from getting a consistent rhythm on the ice.

Thus far on the Hawks trip, they have yet to play a team that is in better than fourth place in their division. On Wednesday evening, the Hawks get the hottest team in hockey. San Jose is currently 11-0-1 at home.

What will be interesting, and more than likely the key to the Hawks game plan, will be how the excitement and momentum of such a spirited victory against Toronto translates three days later.

Do the Hawks come out and play the same physical hockey that was successful in Dallas, or do they allow the Sharks to stake their claim to an early lead like the Leafs did on Saturday? 

Also key on Wednesday evening will be the continued success of the Hawks power play units. The Hawks have had a couple rough games, specifically against these same Sharks and against St Louis at home, but other than those games the Hawks have been very good both offensively and defensively on the power play.

San Jose, meanwhile, comes into the game with almost identical numbers to those of the Hawks: the Hawks power play percentage is 0.4% lower than San Jose's (21.3-21.7%), while the power play kill is slightly better for Chicago (84.2-83.8%).

One piece of intrigue for Hawks fans entering Wednesday's contest will be the participation (or lack thereof) from Dustin Byfuglien and Brent Sopel, both of whom have been named in numerous trade rumors and haven't skated with the team in a few days.